Golden Keys

As I was praying I was standing before the throne of God and the Holy Spirit led me to stretch my hands out and on my hands was placed a huge golden key. I needed both hands to carry it, thats how long and wide it was. It was intricate, beautiful, bright, and ancient. I came home to look up the significance of keys in the bible. "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings to search it out." Proverbs 25:2 I am in God's kingdom and I have learned to search out the treasures of God, because they are wonderful and rewarding! More is released to you as you show your diligence and your true desire to know the Father's heart, his wishes, his dreams. Any person will tell you his thoughts if you actually show him you care to listen, why would the Father be any different. He is so good to share his heart and his thoughts and these are a treasure chest!! So this is what I've been discovering... on this topic of Keys I will just point out the things that are being highlighted to me right now, because the study is very thorough.

In Isaiah 22:2-25 You will find two men: One is Shebna and the other is Eliakim. Shebna is described as a man who is building for himself a tomb to be remembered. For this reason, God removes him, for he is a contemptible steward and treasurer. In his place He calls Eliakim, He says he will clothe him with Shebna's robe, and bind him with Shebna's girdle, and will commit Shebna's authority to Eliakim's hands. God proclaims over Eliakim that he will be a Father to the inhabitants to the house of Judah and the KEY of David will be laid upon his shoulder. He says that with this key, he shall OPEN and NO ONE will SHUT, and he shall SHUT and NO ONE shall OPEN!! What AUTHORITY!! (By the way this passage contains alot about the future to come Messiah... worth looking into)

So, we find these two men in this time of struggle for the kingdom, in a time of war, one of which has pretty much given up on victory and is focusing on how to be remembered, he is literately building his tomb! His focus is on himself and on his death... what hope is this?! He has misused his authority, his royalty, his knowledge to build a name for himself. He is useless to the kingdom because he is not bringing about solutions for the kingdom. If God is King, and we are part of his kingdom aren't we called to carry out the tasks of the kingdom and look for the edification and establishment of this very kingdom we belong to?? When Shebna fails to do this and uses the resources of the kingdom for his name sake, God takes away this authority and gives it to his servant ELIAKIM.  The name Eliakim in hebrew means: "God sets up or God raises up" He gives him this key, which allows him to open and close doors..... to what you ask? to the advancement of the Kingdom.
We learn a principle of the kingdom here.. in Isaiah 23:9 "the Lord of hosts has purposed it [in accordance with a fixed principle of His government] to defile the pride of all glory and to bring into dishonor and contempt all the honored of the earth." So we see from this that God pretty much hates pride and when he sees it he will do what it takes to humble this person. He is the one who gives authority out in the first place, and if we fail to recognize who that key belongs to, and give HIM the glory He deserves, God can and will take it away to one He is able to trust to do with his authority the business of the kingdom.

So back to this key... we see that it's called the Key of David what He gives to Eliakim. In Revelation 3:7 we see that Jesus has this Key : "This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

Who else had these keys in scripture?
Peter,
Jesus' followers,

Matthew 16:13-19 "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Jesus told him this after Peter responded to his question of who Jesus is. When Peter respondeded with understanding and revelation from the Father that Jesus is Messiah, Jesus proclaimed to him that he would be given these keys, that will open and close the doors of heaven on earth. It sounds like a test, or a prerequisite to being given the keys.

Key  in hebrew is "maf-tay-ach"  which literately means "opener." We see that people with the keys becomes themselves as openers, they take on the characteristics of these keys. Can they be used incorrectly, I believe so!  Whoever has the keys of a home has a level of authority in that home, Jesus rebuked the pharisees. "What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering." In this case it seems like the key is knowledge, which makes sense, because Peter was asked a question and when he answered correctly he was given the keys. So without knowledge/revelation/wisdom from above, you cannot be a carrier of these keys. You must know how to operate in the Kingdom. Acquire Knowledge from God. Ask of him wisdom and he will give you. The word of God opens up doors, we must Know God's word and we must know Who He is, we must be faithful to the words of the Lord and and declare them, because his words are life, as we speak them we live and bring others to life! Peter was given the keys after he answered with Knowledge and Revelation from above. The pharisees who had the law, had the key of knowledge, the word, and yet were not opening doors to the kingdom.

Later we see Peter was given the task to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. (Acts 10) He was the instrument, the key, to open up the door of the Kingdom of God to the gentiles.

So is it safe to say that these Keys are given to those who know how to use them as good stewards to open doors for the establishment of the Kingdom. Different people have them. Faithful and good stewards. KINGDOM BUILDERS.

This week... as I walked around I came across people with gold keys.  Yes actual keys. God was showing me there are others who also have these keys.... I met a man from Argentina and around his neck he had a gold key, he had opened up an evangelistic tour company here in the holy land. Then I met a man from Texas who was establishing a house of prayer in an ancient city here in the holy land, he also had a gold key around his neck. He told me that when God gave it to him, he told him it stands for obedience opens up the good doors. I don't deem this a coincidence, I saw a drawing of Peter with a key by his head where is said " I have a dream". I can relate.........I have a dream as well.

Through these encounters with actual people with actual keys, God has given me insight to the networks of his Kingdom and Kingdom people who have certain keys in different areas and mountains. These are the people that the Lord has "set up" equipped and they are "opening" and "closing" doors for the establishment of his Kingdom. And he is setting us up in our spheres of influence to administer his desires and the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. Are you one of these? It is important to look into the lives of those who were given these keys, this trust, and what the Lord deems a good and faithful servant and steward. He is also asking us to come into contact, and to work together. He sets up this highway of Kingdom connections. It will require love and trust and diligence.

As his royal priesthood may we use the keys to unlock doors, open up treasure chests, and unveil the truths of his word to those who are in darkness and outside of the kingdom for HIS names' sake.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race who serve as Priests for The Kingdom, a holy people, a redeemed assembly; you should proclaim the praises of him who called you from darkness into his excellent light.

Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."

Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Be faithful in the little, Eliakim was a servant of the Lord, and God set him up. He could be trusted, he was a good steward, he had the kingdoms' best interest at heart.

Prayer: May I be found a faithful servant my King, may my heart be yours for your kingdom, my eyes look to you and my will is surrendered to your will. May I come to the full understanding of your ways and the authority given to us, your people, through Jesus Christ, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May I fulfill all that you called me, set me apart, and chose me to do in this generation and may your name be known in the darkest places. That there may be light. For your loving kindness and justice is very much needed. May we reflect your passionate love and compassion in this place. May your kingdoms principles be established, that many may be restored to beauty, joy, and peace. In your son's name, Amen.